Talent development at GELITA: Sharing knowledge, building networks

Discovering young talents and preparing them for future roles within the organization is one of the most crucial strategic tasks for companies, especially during times of skilled labor shortages. To develop the next generation of experts and managers in production, GELITA has established the Young Professionals Network (YPN). Since 2018, more than 100 young professionals have participated in a two-year global development cycle. The focus is on imparting knowledge about the production of gelatin and collagen peptides and showcasing possible career paths.

In today's dynamic business environment, leaders at GELITA face a myriad of challenges, from financial management to team leadership and project initiation. The GADP addresses these challenges head-on, providing participants with essential skills and knowledge crucial for driving success within the company, and thus guarantees that our customers reap the rewards of the top-tier expertise of our leaders now and down the road.

Designed to equip our talents – experts and leaders – with the skills needed for the ever-evolving landscape of leadership and management, GELITA has already seen a total number of 34 colleagues across 11 functional areas and 9 countries successfully complete the GADP since it was initiated in 2022. Led by Melanie Borner, Head of Global Human Resources Development & Culture, the GADP aims to build and cultivate our internal leadership talent pool while fostering international exchange and a robust network. Through a series of program modules and GELITA-specific project work, each cohort of participants embarks on an eight-month learning journey, with support from esteemed partners such as the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.

GELITA Expert Interview with Martin Walter, Global Category Manager, Healthy Aging & Sports Nutrition

When did your GELITA career begin?

I joined in early 2008 as an intern, when GELITA gave me the opportunity to write my thesis about the market potential of collagen peptides in Asia. I then worked in different business development and product management functions, where I was responsible for the market introduction of our Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP^®), including the award-winning FORTIGEL^® and FORTIBONE^®. Today, as Global Category Manager, I’m responsible for developing our Healthy Aging and Sports Nutrition portfolio. We focus on consumer needs, such as better performance in sports or improved mobility for the aging population. Our solutions are market-oriented and show huge growth potential.

GELITA Expert Interview – Natalie Leuwer, Category Manager, Nutrition and Health Ingredients

How long have you been at GELITA, and what does your role entail?

I’ve learned everything about GELITA from scratch. After joining as an apprentice in 2008, I completed my bachelor’s and master’s degrees with the company as a partner. I then worked in the Marketing & Communications department, handling digital communications, communications material such as videos, and market intelligence. These experiences were all excellent preparation for my role as Category Manager, where I’m now responsible for developing the product portfolio for food specialties. I ensure all new products are market-oriented and serve specific consumer requirements. The other key parts of my role are helping these new products grow and making already established products more successful.

Since 2018, GELITA’s Young Professionals Network has been cultivating the next generation of experts in gelatin and collagen peptide production. It’s all about ensuring that our customers continue to benefit from world-leading expertise now and in the future.

We have just published our eighth Sustainability Report, detailing our progress in 2022 and our future commitments to the environment and our employees, customers, and suppliers.

As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of pure, natural collagen proteins and gelatin products, we take our ESG (environmental, social, and governance) responsibilities very seriously. GELITA’s core business is intrinsically based on the principle of the circular economy, because we refine by-products from the food industry to create valuable ingredients for many new applications.